Crystal Palace Beats Manchester City and makes history, winning first FA Cup in 119 years
18/05/2025
A truly historic moment for The Eagles when they defeated Manchester City, 1-0, in the 2025 FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
This is the club's first major trophy in their 119-year existence, ending a long wait for Eagles fans and proving that the local competition continues to be full of surprises.
In a match dominated by City in terms of possession, the best opportunity was taken advantage of by Eberechi Eze in the 16th minute.
The 24-year-old winger finished off Daniel Muñoz's cross with a stunning flick, confusing the City defence before beating goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
Dean Henderson was the hero by saving Omar Marmoush's penalty kick in the 36th minute, and also thwarting attempts by Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku in the second half.
The only controversy was Henderson handling the ball outside the penalty area in the 24th minute, but VAR did not confirm it as an excessive foul.
Tactical Oliver Glasner received praise for his ability to organize effective defensive and counter-attacking strategies.
Glasner focuses on forming a close-knit central three-man defence, while using the speed of the defensive wingers to switch from defensive to attacking situations.
In just a few seconds, Manchester City controlled 76.7% of the ball possession, setting a record for the highest FA Cup final since 2014, but were unable to find space to penetrate the disciplined Palace defence.
The win gives Palace automatic qualification for next season's UEFA Europa League, giving them the chance to raise their profile on the European stage.
It is also their first qualification for European competition. The Eagles will also face Liverpool, the 2024–25 Premier League champions, in the 2025 FA Community Shield.
